Women's History Month: 'Girl CEO' offers strong examples and advice for young readers

By Kristina Fonteskfontes@heraldnews.com

Friday

Mar 1, 2019 at 9:59 AMMar 1, 2019 at 7:51 PM

Women's History Month is officially upon us, with International Women's Day fast approaching (it's March 8, and yes, I'm watching "Captain Marvel" to celebrate).

Although I'm more often than not caught up in some sort of history book or podcast, this month in particular turns my thoughts to the ways that women have shaped and changed our world.

This Women's History Month, I've been made more mindful of the role of women in business. We are half the population of this planet, and yet we are woefully unrepresented.

As of 2018, just 24 female CEOs were listed as leading companies on the Fortune 500 list.

But that is going to change. We are working toward equity, even if it's not as quick to arrive as some of us would hope.

What helps is for us to teach our girls that they have the power and the tools to succeed, and to instill the kind of confidence in them that will help them to achieve their dreams.

With that in mind, I'm recommending a book to share with the girls, and boys (it's just as important that our young men learn the benefits of equality) in your lives this Women's History Month:

"Girl CEO: Priceless advice from trailblazing women," written by Ronnie Cohen and Katherine Ellison and illustrated by Georgia Rucker.

Published by Downtown Bookworks, "Girl CEO" offers readers advice from 40 leading women entrepreneurs past and present, on "what it takes to succeed in business — and in life." Each woman is profiled with a brief biography, how she got her business off the ground, and some advice from that woman about how to succeed at whatever your passion project is.

The women profiled in this book represent centuries of businesswomen, from the 1800s through our time, as well as many industries, including fashion, finance, music, media, sports equipment, toys, tech and more, according to a press release.

From very young women like Mikaila Ulmer, founder of Me & the Bees Lemonade, to Madam C.J. Walker, who made her fortune in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these women's stories show that you can always follow your passion, whether you are very young, or a little more mature in years.

Each profile has a message for readers: Diane von Furstenberg's is "find your signature"; Oprah Winfrey's is "be willing to change"; Plesant Rowland, founder of American Girl, urges readers to "market directly to your customers"; and Linda Alvarado's is to "redefine women's work."

One of the strengths of this book is that its subjects represent a wide variety of women, both in terms of upbringing, economic status, race and industry. This book doesn't shy away from the additional challenge of racism that women of color face in addition to sexism, and it is frank in a way that isn't discouraging to its audience. Young people will read this and know what they are facing, but this book will help them to feel more prepared, rather than afraid.

I also appreciated the wide span of time that the subjects cover. It is inspiring to see women throughout history and women today showing how far we have come, and the future that we are continuing to build.

The illustrations are inviting as well, with the subjects' portraits all done in warm colors. There are breakout boxes with different business-related terms as well as advice from each subject.

The women profiled in this book were and are at the top of their respective games, and the advice in these pages is invaluable for young readers hoping to break into business.